[Southern Department] That the Ordinance of Sep^t 30. 1780 &c of March 22^d 1781 not having Continued the Hospital Chaplains and the Resolution of November 9. 1780 having directed their duty to be performed by those of the Brigades your Commissioner is of Opinion that M^r Smith was deranged under those Resolutions. That the Half pay of the Hospital Officers then reduced was fixed by the Resolution of January 17. 1781 and of the Brigade Chaplains by the Resolve of the [undecipherable] following which resolutions have not included the Hospital Chaplains. Your Commissioner therefore presumes that he cannot under the present promises of Congress Justify the Commutation to M^r Smith and that if Congress think proper to grant the Same his Case will require an express resolution for that Purpose. [seal/flourish] Office of Army Acco^ts To Charles Thompson Sec^y of Congress The above report Continued Your Commissioner begs Leave further to report that a Resolution of the 2 June 1785 has directed that those Officers of the Hospital department who were detained in Charleston after its Surrender to the Brittish troops for the purpose of attending the Sick & Wounded of the Army of the United States have in Consideration of the Extra Expence which they incurred by the performance of said duty be allowed the Sums affixed to their respective names Contained in a Return deposited in the War Office which was transmitted and Signed by David Oliphant deputy director of the Southern Hospital. That your Commissioner has examined the return alluded to in the above resolution and finds that the name of the Memorialists was omitted. That Doctor Oliphant has Since furnished the Memorialist with a Certificate that, These are to Certify that the Rev. Robert Smith Chaplain to the General Hospital for the United States of America on the Southern Department remained in Charleston after its Surrender to the Brittish, until the Middle of April 1781 (eleven Mo & half,) with other Officers of said Hospital and did the Chaplains duty. and that he afterwards was Sent by the Brittish to Haddills Point from thence to Philadelphia a Prisoner on Parole and that his name was omitted by mistake on the pay Role of the Hospital as an Officer entitled to Extra expences and ~~fees~~ to the Sec^y of War. dated August 10. 1783 by me Dav^d Oliphant &c D^r S. H.